Dwork On Sports: Dolphins Defense Needs Wake-Up Call After Coaching Changes
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Welcome to the Dwork On Sports blog. This is a place where I'll cover all things related to South Florida sports, with a steady combination of facts and opinions while ultimately keeping a close eye on anything and everything related to our local teams.
Much of the blame for the Miami Dolphins failed attempt to make the playoffs last season was due to the team's poor defensive play.
It was a major point of emphasis during the offseason.
Miami handed out the richest contract ever given to a defensive player when they signed Ndamukong Suh to a 6-year $114 million contract with $60 million guaranteed.
Now here we are, four games into the 2015 season and the Dolphins defense has not looked much better.
Miami is last in the league in run defense, allowing 160.5 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry.
The defensive line was expected to be a strength of the team. Teaming up Suh with Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon and Earl Mitchell, plus the addition of CJ Mosely, was supposed to create one of the best pass rushes in the NFL.
That has not been the case though. Miami is last in the league with just one sack through four games, and that came thanks to rookie Jordan Phillips in Week 1.
The Dolphins also added a few veterans to its secondary in Brice McCain and Zack Bowman. McCain has been burned multiple times every game and Bowman hasn't played well enough during practice to earn a consistent role on the defense.
The expected step forward from young corners Jamar Taylor and Will Davis never happened. Davis has since been traded to the Ravens while Taylor has not looked good when replacing McCain.
Following the Dolphins loss to the New York Jets in London, owner Stephen Ross knew a change had to be made.
He fired head coach Joe Philbin and replaced him on an interim basis with tight ends coach Dan Campbell.
After being the man in charge for a few days, Campbell fired defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle and replaced him with defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo while also shaking up the coaching staff, reassigning several coaches on both sides of the ball.
Campbell also promoted special teams coach Darren Rizzi to assistant head coach.
Will all these changes do anything to help the Dolphins on the field on Sundays?
Miami hits the road to face the Tennessee Titans this weekend, and that will be the first time fans will get a look at the hopefully new-look Dolphins. Then they return home to face the struggling Houston Texans, who have had major issues at quarterback this season.
Neither team is an offensive juggernaut, giving the Dolphins an opportunity to do one of two things. Either the defense can begin playing up to its potential or it can be embarrassed again by getting gashed by sub-par offensive teams.
Be sure to check out our FinsOn4 Live Dolphins Blog where we will be posting season-long coverage, updates, photos, video, commentary and more throughout the entire 2015 season.
Watch Miami take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, October 18th at 1:00 p.m. on CBS4, your official Dolphins station!
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